Chicago Portage National Historic Site

A most significant historical location and the birthplace of Chicago

I was a volunteer tour guide there for three years. It is a most special place with so much significant history. Be aware, however, that most of the landscape has been altered with the re-channeliza...

Linking the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River

Nobody ever discovered the fabled Northwest Passage, an oceanic route through the North American continent, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. But French explorers discovered the Chicago Portage...

Hidden Historic Gem

While exploring Cook County Forest Preserves and Trails in 2020, I came upon this hidden gem worth centuries of history.  A little history - The Chicago Portage National Historic Site marks the wester...

Need to promote this place more

Being a native of Chicago, one doesn't give enough time to think how and why this city was formed. The Portage is a great place to start. Its the reason why this location became an economic and transp...

How Checagou or Shikaakwa became Chicago

Chicago owes its very existence as one of the world's great cities to the location of the Chicago Portage National Historic Site in Lyons, Illinois. The birthplace of Chicago, it is located in Portage...